Topical germicidal medicine



Patented Apr. 19, 1938 TOPICAL GERMICIDAL MEDICINE Frank J. Blckenheuser, Tulsa, Oklnr, assignor, by direct and mesne assignments, of three-fourths to Gellocide Corporation,

Tulsa, Okla, and one- 3211:! to George Fulton Collins, Sn, Tulsa,

No Drawing.

dclaims.

The present invention relates to a topical medicine in the form of a substantially clear oily liquid which preferably is entirely free from odor or which at any event does not-have any pronounced characteristic odor. Said oily liquid carries a strong germicidal constituent in solution, and said liquid is entirely suitable for application to mucous surfaces and which when applied to a mucous surface will combine with moisture present thereon or which exudes from such mucous surface, forming a jelly-like mass which will adhere tenaciously to said mucous surface, for 'a considerable period, and until it has been largely diluted with the watery exudations of such mucous surface, after which the said coating can be readily washed off, for example with warm water.

The following specific formula is given, which has been found to give excellent results, but I desire to call attention to the fact that the invention is not restricted to the said specific ex ample, which is given purely by way of illustration:

Oleic acid 6.5 liters Triethanolamine l 2 liters Medicinal mineral oil-. 5 liters Cottonseed or olive oil 3.75 liters Ortho-iodo-benzoic acid 4 ounces av. (equivalent to about 124 rams) In producing the medicine from the above ,formula, the following has been found to be the most advantageous procedure. The oleic acid is first heatedto about 120 F., and the iodo-benzoic acid is added, and the mixture is stirred until the said iodo-benzoic acid has gone into solution. 15 or 20 minutes stirring will usually be 'suificient. This solution is then drawn oil into a 1318611'6. ceptacle which is placed in a water bath or oil bath and maintained at about 100 F. The mineral oil is then added and well stirred for 10 to 20 minutes. Then the cottonseed oil or olive oil is added and again stirred for 10 to 20 minutes, the temperature at this time being about 100 F. The triethanolamine is added and well stirred. The temperature rises considerably on account of the reaction taking place between the triethanolamine and the oleic acid, which as well known forms a trlethanolamine soap, which is. miscible with the oils. The addition of the triethanolamine first gives a milky solution, and upon continuing the stirring for 10 to 20 minutes the mass becomes thoroughly clear. The solution can then be allowed to settle, and the clear oil decanted and is then ready for putting up into packages to sell. A convenient form of packaging i a c l. lapsible metal tube having a screw cap." The completed medicine is a viscous oily mixture, of

Application February Serial No. 124,135

a yellowish or amber color, which can be kept for long periods without deterioration- In the above formula, oleic acid was referred to. It will be understood that for producing a mixture of higher viscosity, 2. small amount of the oleic acid can be substituted by solid fatty acids such as stearic. I would not ordinarily recommend substituting more than one-fifth of the oleic acid by stearic.

The medicinal mineral oil can be the widely used variety sold as a mild laxative, being a water-white liquid, having a specific gravity of about 0.880, and a Saybolt viscosity at C. ,about 250, and free from unsaturated constitu-' ents. Other similar oils can be used.

The cottonseed oil or olive oil may be the usual well refined edible grades. In place of theseoiis, other well refined liquid fatty oils can be used, for example soybean oil, peanut oil, sesame oiLperilis oil or the like, all preferably in the well refined condition and substantially free from odors. If the fatty oil used contains considerable free fatty acid, slightly more of the said'oil and slightly less of the oleic acid can be suitably employed. The use of the well refined oil and of the well refined free fatty acid are however more desirable, as giving a product more free from odor and which will apparently keep better.

Although the product is of an oily nature, it has a strong afilnlty for water, and when the 30 said oily material comes into contact with water, (in other words is "hydrophilic) it forms a mass of jelly-like consistency which strongly adheres to wet mucous surfaces.

The action of the oily medicine when it is brought into contact with water (or aqueous liquids including aqueous .discharges being given off by mucous surfaces) containing bacteria or other living micro-organisms, has been carefully stud- 'ied, under the microscope. The oily material bursts into the aqueous liquid forming billows ofsoft- Jelly-like consistency, the water a'ctingupon the ortho-iodo-benzoic acid, apparently causing hydrolysis of the latter, giving the appearance of a spray of germicidal material which projects out into the aqueous liquid, immediately rendering inactive the micro-organisms present, and the jelly sucking in these micro-organisms, to com pletely envelop the same. lfollowing this action, the Jelly stlifens somewhat, imprlsoning the said micro-organisms. which, are thereby destroyed. This action takes place irrespective of what forms of micro-organisms are present, whether coll-bacillus, staphylococci, spirochaetae, strep-' tococci, spores, spermatozoa or various mixed cultures, or infact any living organis The medicine is particularly advantageous for appllcationto mucous surfaces from which liq uids are being exuded, whether in normal healthy condition or in a diseased condition. It is apar- 00 ample, in the-treatment of various vaginal disorders, such as all forms of leucorrhea, including cervicitis and vaginitis, and as a preventive against gonorrhea.

For this purpose a small quantity, say a teaspoonful, can be injected into the vaginal cavitywith a syringe advantageously on retiring, followed next morning by a douche of lukewarm water.

When so introduced, a jelly-like product will be formed by the union of the oily medicine with the aqueous exudations of such mucous surfaces or other aqueous liquids present, which will ordinarily persist on said surfaces for a considerable period, e. g. 8-10 hours, during all of said period it is active in destroying all living organisms present. No bandages, tampons or the like are needed to hold the medicine in place, since after application, it is connected by action of the aqueous secretions, into a jelly-like mass that .adheres to the said surfaces.

k The function of the oleic acid and triethanolamine are to combine with each other and form a triethanolamine oleate (a soapy material) which is readily soluble in oils, and in order to subsequently coact with aqueous exudations to form the jelly-like mass referred to above. This triethanolamine oleate in the presence of'oil and aqueous fluids produces a soft colloidal mass of such a consistency that it cannot cause irritation of the mucous surfaces. It would be impossible to substitute a soda or potash soap for the triethanolamine oleate, with satisfactory results.

The oily medicine, and the jelly-like mass avidly absorb all bacteria and other living organisms.

in "said aqueous secretions, to envelop and imprison the same.

The cottonseed oil or other liquid fatty oil coacts with the mineral oil to give a jelly which is more firm and adsorbent and clings better to the mucous surfaces.

Without the mineral oil present the action of the aqueous liquids would give aproduct which although somewhat jellylike would in many cases be too hard and solid, and more or less brittle. The mineral oil gives the jelly a far better consistency, softer and of generally better physical properties, and aids in the more rapid spreading ofthe medicine and jelly over the mucous surfaces.

A particularly important feature of the present invention is that the material either as originally employed or after conversion into jelly, has no irritating action on the mucous surfaces and causes no irritation or discomfort when so applied, and has no harmful effect on the tissue.

It would not be feasible to apply iodo-benzoic acid to mucous surfaces such as referred to above, by other methods and obviously it would not be feasible to apply this material to the mucous surfaces in such a manner that it would be held in contact therewith for a period of, many hours, without the use of bandages, tampons and the like, which are generally objectionable.-

..I claim:-

1. A vehicle for medicines to be applied to mucous surfaces, the same being a substantially clear oily liquid consisting essentially of a normally liquid fatty oil, a well purified normally liquid mineral oil which is substantially nonvolatile at room temperature, and the reaction ticularly advantageous medicine to apply, for ex-- product of oleic acid and triethanolamine, the oleic acid being several times the volume of the triethanolamine, and the volume ofthe fatty oil plus the volume of the mineral oil being only slightly over one-half of the total volume of said oily vehicle, such vehicle being a substantially clear oily appearing liquid, which spreads over and which clings readily to mucous surfaces when applied thereto, and which when so applied forms a mass of jelly-like consistency by taking up the aqueous secretions of said mucous surfaces, which jelly-like mass will cling to the said mucous surfaces until excessively diluted,

, 2. An oily germicidal topical medicine suitable for the treatment of vaginal disorders and for preventing gonorrhea, which consists substantially of iodo-benzoic acid dissolved in a vehicle of oily nature, such vehicle containing as its essential constituents a purified mineral oil and a fatty oil, and the reaction product of triethanolamine and a fatty acid material composed at least in major part of oleic acid, said components being in such proportions as to give a freely liquid oil which upon taking up aqueous fluids containing bacteria, will produce a mass of soft jellylike consistency which will envelop and retain any bacteria present, which jelly-like mixture will cling tenaciously to said mucous surfaces until excessively diluted and capable of being readily washed ofl when so diluted.

3. An oily germicidal medicine suitable for the treatment of vaginal disorders and for preventing gonorrhea by injection into the vaginal cavity, which consists essentially of an iodo benzoic acid, dissolved in a vehicle of oily nature, such vehicle containing as its essential constituents a purified mineral oil and a fatty oil and the reaction product of triethanolamine and a fatty acid material composed 'at least in major part of oleic acid, the amount of the fatty oil plus the amount of the mineral oil being only a minor fraction greater than the amount of the triethanolamine plus'the amount of the fatty acid material, and the amount of the fatty acid material being substantially greater than the amount of the triethanolamine, such topical medicine being non-irritating when applied to mucous surfaces, and forming thereupon a jelly-like mixture which clings tenaciously to said mucous surfaces until excessively diluted and belngreadily tain any bacteria present, and iodo-benzoic acid in solution therein, such medicine being a substantiallyclear oil, and being non-irritating when injected without previous dilution into the vaginal cavity, and when so applied combining with the moist exudations in the vaginal cavity to form an adherent jelly-like mass having germicidal properties.

FRANK J. BICKENHEUSER. 

